The Lab's Spring Field Ornithology course has been a mainstay for 31 years. It is led by the National Audubon Society's popular and dynamic Vice President for Bird Conservation, Dr. Steve Kress, who is also widely known for his award-winning bird conservation efforts pertaining to Atlantic Puffins off the coast of Maine. Steve is also the author of many popular birding books.

The lectures portion of the course introduces students to the local birds of Central NY through audio recordings, slides, videos, and interesting talks. For the field trips portion of the course, Kress is joined by some of the area’s best birding experts to form birding groups at beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels. Field group size is usually limited to 10 to 15 people per group in order for the participants. Every weekend the course's various field trip leaders will introduce their group's participants to different local birding "hot spots" and give tips on how to locate and identify different types of birds.

"Spring Field Ornithology provides an ideal opportunity not only for beginning birders to tap into the area’s considerable birding expertise and learn more about birds, but for more advanced birders to hone up on their skills," says Kress. "And the best part is, the birds themselves do much of the teaching, and they have amazing things to say."

The year 2008 will mark Spring Field Ornithology's 31st anniversary, and it will be held in the Lab's Fuertes Room. The Fuertes Room is a special attraction at the Lab, as it features the paintings of Ithaca artist Louis Agassiz Fuertes—one of the world's greatest bird artists. The field trips section of the couse will meet in the observatory of the Lab on weekend mornings (either Saturday OR Sunday, student's choice).

Spring Field Ornithology 2008 can be YOUR opportunity to visit the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and to get to know many of your feathered neighbors. Plan on being part of the excitement by signing up today!